Australia’s new generation of road racing stars came under fire from veteran Scott Sunderland on Friday for allegedly causing a bone-chilling crash that could endanger his 2002 season.

For Robbie McEwen (Lotto) Friday’s 141km fourth stage in the Jacob’s Creek Tour Down Under brought his third victory in the race and sixth in 15 days, but it was a different story for Sunderland (Lotto), Australia’s second-highest ranked rider on the world standings who has also been leading the climbers’ category here.

McEwen won the stage from the Adelaide suburb of Unley to the former whaling station of Victor Harbour ahead of Germany’s Danilo Hondo (Telekom) and Estonia’s Jaan Kirsipuu (AG2R).

Meanwhile, Italian Fabio Sacchi (Saeco) was also left smiling on the podium after he held onto his overall lead. The Italian, who finished seventh on the stage, still leads by one second over Michael Rogers (AIS) and by five seconds on Italian Andrea Tafi (Mapei).

Sunderland, however, was rushed to the hospital after being involved in a seven-man pile-up with three kilometers to go in the stage.

He suffered damage to the posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and sustained an undisplaced fracture of his right tibia in the spill. The crash involved at least six other riders: Jens Heppner (Telekom), Jorgen van Goolen (Domo), Inigo Chaurrea-Bernadez (AG2R), Jakob Piil (CSC), Gene Bates (Uni SA) and Adrian Laidler (Uni SA).

Sunderland injured the same knee which was badly infected from a deep cut in a race fall in the Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne race in Belgium in 2000.

Sunderland is not expected to start Saturday’s 156km fifth stage from Gawler to Tanunda, even though he managed to get up, re-mount his bike and bravely ride to the finish on Friday.

But he didn’t hesitate in sending a parting shot to those who he suspects caused the accident in the middle of the pack.

"I am totally pissed off. It has been one of the reasons why I avoid some races in Australia," said Sunderland who finished alone, 10:16 behind McEwen.

"There are guys on the road (who are) in over their heads. I don’t know why they are sprinting for 25th place or 50 bucks.

"They are busting their arses all day, trying to keep up. They are knackered and their reaction time slows down.

"They then don’t see the move or are not aware of it. And then they are in front off you and fall off. You end up being the one losing."

Sunderland stopped short of solely blaming little Australian Under 23 rider Gene Bates (Uni South Australia) for the crash. But Sunderland admitted it was Bates, the winner of last year’s under-23 category, who he first targeted after getting back on the bike.

"Gene went over the top and dropped right in front of me. I got up and gave him a mouthful because he is the one I hit," said Sunderland.

Several hours after the race, Sunderland was devastated on Friday night, his hopes of a successful European spring campaign wiped out. He said his hopes were now focused on gaining selection in the Australian team to contest this year's Commonwealth Games road race in Manchester, England in June.

"I am gutted. I felt like crying," said Sunderland. "I have to salvage something and getting Commonwealth Games selection would be a good goal."

While Australia’s young riders may have copped a serve, they did not end the day with only dark clouds over them. They came to the event with lofty ambitions of mixing it with the top riders, and yesterday showed how much conviction they have.

Victorian David Pell (United Water) spent 90km alone and in front after attacking 34km into the stage. He was only caught with 16km to go. On Saturday, for stage five, he will start deservedly wearing the most aggressive rider’s jersey for his bravado.

Pell, a reputed time trialist, gained a maximum lead of 5:03 at the 85km mark. But once the one climb of the day approached, that advantage fell.

The Seaco-led peloton caught Pell at the 120km mark, soon after the day’s main obstacle, the windswept 2km-long climb to Waitpinga overlooking the Southern Ocean.

Pell, who was the Australian under-23 road champion and national road race series winner in 2000, finished second-to-last, and 7:03 down on McEwen.

However, despite his bravado – unfairly or not - it was a day that saw all attention fall on two of Australia’s most credentialed veterans of the sport.

One was McEwen, the stage winner and clearly the strongest in the race. Another was Sunderland, the loser – and for more reasons than anyone could have anticipated.